Chicago Cubs Power Rankings: North Siders inching closer to top five

MLB.com Power Rankings: 2) Boston Red Sox

In the first half, New York Yankees’ rookie Aaron Judge was the toast of baseball. He won the Home Run Derby in Miami, ahead of what many hoped would be another staggeringly-solid half of baseball.

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Instead, Judge has been atrocious, as opposing pitchers exploit holes in his swing. In his place, Boston Red Sox rookie Andrew Benintendi is leading his club to the top of the East – and, hopefully, a World Series title.

Boston is 5 1/2 up on the Bombers in the division, thanks to a 17-10 stretch over the last month. Benintendi, meanwhile, owns a 24-for-64 stretch in his last 16 contests. On the year, he’s batting .279 with an .806 OPS.

Like the Cubs and Astros, Boston is a young team. But they know how to win.

In the first year of the post-David Ortiz era, the club hopes it will start a new stretch in team history – another full of winning in October.